Retiree disarms alleged gunman in bar shooting

Tuesday, March 12, 2013

IMPERIAL, Pa. (AP) — Police say a retired steelworker with a bad heart still is responsible for subduing and disarming a man jailed on charges he shot three people — one fatally — at a western Pennsylvania bar.

Allegheny County police Lt. Andrew Schurman says 60-year-old Jerry Maroni was courageous in his efforts to stop the shooting suspect, 25-year-old David Mazzocco, at the Fort Pitt Inn in North Fayette Township early Monday.

Police believe Mazzocco became upset while text messaging his girlfriend when he began shooting about 12:45 a.m. Authorities say Mazzocco one man in the head, killing him, and wounded another in the neck before Maroni — who was also shot in the arm — subdued the suspect.

Maroni tells the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, "He was ready to kill everybody. I just snapped ... and I ran toward him."